# Alcohol in Uzbekistan

> Yes — Uzbekistan is officially secular and alcohol is freely available. Local vodka, cognac and wine are cheap; imported spirits and beer sold everywhere. Public drunkenness is uncommon and looked down upon.

Despite being a Muslim-majority country, Uzbekistan has a functioning secular alcohol market inherited from the Soviet era.

**Availability**:
- Supermarkets, small shops, hotels, restaurants — all sell alcohol.
- Some smaller neighbourhood shops don't stock it, but the shop next door will.
- No dry days or evening closures.
- Fully self-service.

**Local products**:
- **Uzbek vodka** — Ferghana, Uzbekiston, Silver Wolf brands. ~$3–8 for a 0.5 L bottle.
- **Uzbek cognac** — Samarkand and Tashkent produce recognisably French-style brandies. Cheap and decent quality.
- **Uzbek wine** — the Samarkand and Ferghana regions grow European and native grape varieties. Bagizagan winery in Samarkand and Sirdaryo winery produce mid-priced reds and whites. Some sweet dessert wines still made in the Soviet tradition.
- **Beer** — Sarbast is the main national brand. Also imported: Baltika (Russian), various German lagers.

**Prices**:
- Local beer 500 ml: 15,000–25,000 UZS ($1.20–2).
- Wine glass in mid-range restaurant: 40,000–80,000 UZS ($3–6).
- Vodka shot in restaurant: 25,000–40,000 UZS.
- Import beer: double local prices.

**Social norms**:
- **Drinking with meals** is normal, especially at weddings, celebrations, and large family gatherings.
- **Toasts** are given seriously — long formal speeches at weddings, brief blessings at dinners.
- **Refusing to drink** at a formal toast is impolite — take a symbolic sip, or say you're taking antibiotics.
- **Public drunkenness** is uncommon and viewed poorly. Loud drunk foreigners will be noticed.
- **Ramadan**: many restaurants stop serving alcohol during Ramadan out of respect. Larger hotels and tourist restaurants continue.

**Legal**:
- Drinking age: 21 (rarely checked for adults).
- Drink driving strictly enforced. Zero tolerance.
- No open-container law but drinking in public is looked down on.

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Keywords: alcohol, vodka, wine, beer, Uzbekistan
Updated: 2026-08-15
Category: tips
URL: https://uzbguidedtours.com/kb/kb-tips-alcohol-laws